Karachi Kings knocked out as Qalandars shake up PSL 11 playoff race

KARACHI: The playoff equation in Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 took a dramatic turn on Saturday as Karachi Kings were officially eliminated from the tournament following a crucial win by Lahore Qalandars over Peshawar Zalmi at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The defending champions Qalandars delivered under pressure, securing a composed six-wicket victory that lifted them to 10 points in 10 matches. This win propelled them to fourth place on the points table, edging past the Kings, who finished with the same number of points but fell short due to an inferior net run rate.

Earlier in the day, Karachi Kings had kept their slim hopes alive with a victory over Quetta Gladiators. However, their fate was not entirely in their hands. They needed both Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen to lose their remaining matches — a scenario that ultimately did not materialize.

The result confirmed yet another disappointing campaign for the 2020 champions, marking the fourth time they have failed to reach the playoffs since the league’s inception in Pakistan Super League in 2016. Notably, this also extends their recent struggles, having missed out on the knockout stage in three consecutive seasons from 2022 to 2024.

Meanwhile, the race for the final playoff spot remains wide open. The fate of the fourth position will now be decided in the upcoming clash between Hyderabad Kingsmen and RawalPindiz at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday.

For Qalandars, qualification is not yet guaranteed. They will be closely watching the outcome of the decisive fixture, hoping Kingsmen slip up. On the other hand, the debutants Kingsmen still have a mathematical chance — but only if they secure a convincing win and significantly improve their net run rate to surpass the Qalandars.

With one playoff berth still up for grabs, PSL 11 heads into a tense and unpredictable finish, keeping fans on edge until the very last league-stage encounter.